Escapement-controlling mechanism



.Sept. 11,1928. 1,683,648

c. H. B EASLEY ESCAPEMENT CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Filed June 11, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 11, 1928. 1 c. H. BEASLEY ESCAPEMENT CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed June 11, 1925 5 ShtS-ShQt-Zt 2 Wmwra jwli i 3 llll ll II HH In?" c. HQBEASLEY ESCAPEMENT CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed'Jflne 11, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,648

- c. H. BEASLEY ESCAPEMENT CONTROLLING MECHANI SM Filed June 11, 1923 5 Sheets-Shet 4 Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,648

C. H. BEASLEY ES(MPEMEN'I CONTROLLING MECHANISM F iled June 11, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet I Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

Herran STATES PATENT 'CIJIFFORD HOWELL BEAsLnY, or BIRMINGIIAM, nnepann, Assrenon or ONE-HALF TO;

zeanxmson Anna/ta B. cowan LIMITED, on BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, A con- PoRATIoN or GREAT BRITAIN.

nsc-APEMENr-ooNrRoLniNe MECHANISM.

Applicationflfiled lune 11, 1923, Serial 1:10., 644,675,1an2i1 in: Great Britain June 20,1922.

This invention has reference to means for automatically varying the going rate of a clock-cs2apement controlling mechanism embodying an oscillatingcon-trolling element (ie a pendulum or balance wheel) and is particularly applicable to clock-escapement controls for use in connection with fluid or liquid metering apparatus, such as apparatus for governing orregulating the delivery of gas to recording, testing, standardizing and similar instruments. I

The saidinvention isprim all; intended to be applied for the purpose of automatically compensating for or correcting the effects of variations in barometric orother pressu-re and temperature on the volume of a gas or other fluid flowingthrough an escapement controlled metering apparatus, in order to en sure the delivery by the said apparatus of a constant and predetermined quantity or volume of gas per time unit irrespective of varying pressure I and temperature conditions; the preferable form of the invention being adapted to vary the volume delivered proportionally to the pressure and temperature in such a way as to maintaina constant quantity supply, equal to a standard volume at normal temperature and pressure. V

In connection with clock-controlled appa-. ratus for regulating the supply of gas to recording calorimeter-s and analogous instruments of the type shownin Patent 985,722, issued to Fredric G. Beasley, under date of February 28, 1911, and in which a pendulum controls thegoverning escapement ot a gas driven drum or equivalentmeasuring device, it has been proposed to correct for tempera ture and pressure changesby an aneroid-operated mechanism comprising a lever from which the pendulum is suspended and which, under displacement by the aneroid, bodily raises or lowers the pendulum and alters the position of its suspension spring relatively to a fixed iulcrum WllQI'GV/lilh the said spring is slidably engaged, the result being to increase or decrease the oscillation. arc of the pendulum and retard or accelerate the going rate of the escapement mechanism and the speed of the gas-driven drum controlled thereby. But in this and other known mechanism Where the regulation of an escapement mechanism is dependent upon varying the length of "a pendulum, the rate of variation in the speed ofthe escapement mechanism is not proportional to the amount by which the pendulum; length is altered inasmuch that the rate will vary according to the wellnknown law of physics relating to pendulums, i. e., the period of vibration or the time taken for a pendulum to move from one end of its beat to the other end and back again is expressed by the formula Where T tim e; Z length of rod in feet; g acceleration of gravity. I

The apparatus that constitutes the present invention is applicable to escapement mecha nism having either pendulum or balance wheel control and comprises an aneroid' or equivalent device susceptible to changes in temperature and pressure, in mechanical con nection with a brake" or'compensatordevice which engages the pendulum or balance wheel, or some element oscillating pro rata therewith, and is adapted to change the Oscillation arc of such element by imposing thereon a variable resistance, determined by and changing with the variations in temperature and pressure conditions that origin atemove mentjin the aneroid or its equivalent. The preferred method of a'pplyingthe said invention provides, as hereinafter described, for the "variation of the oscillation arc and speed of the oscillating element, by a displacement of the brake device in direct'proportion, or sub stantially direct proportion, to the displace:

ment produced at or originating in the susceptible device; the brake dev1ce, when used for controlling a pendulpm', being displaced' according to the formula R where R=Yre-v sistance obtained by the use of the brake or con' pensator spring; D=d1stance through which thebralce is displaced and L -the pendulum length). 7 r

A variable resistance control may be. obtained by the use of a brake or compensator spring which has a fixed or invariable point oi'engagement with the} oscillating element and whoseefieotive length is altered by the aneroidoperated mechanism, but preterably, and where proportional control. is required the apparatus comprises a displaceable brakeor compensator spring whose'p'oint of incidence on the oscillating element is varied or shifted in relation to' the point of oscillation; ()r alternatively, the control may be obtained by varying the deflection arc of the spring and changing its incidence point, v 1 Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent diagrammatically, an aneroidoperated compensating mechanism, adapted to be applied to the pendulum of a mechanism embodying the governing escapement of a gas driven metering drum, n which the resistance tactor ot the brake or compensator its engagement with the pendulum,

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view showing the interconnection be ween the compensator and pendulum, the dott d lines indicating how the compensator spring islaterally deflected by the pendulum when exerting its brake etl'ect on the latter,

Figure 8 1s a detailed View of a leveragevarying adjustment that'is embodied in the short arm of the multiplying lever of the transmission from the capsules to the compensator, V I

F'gure 9 isaperspective view of a modificationot my device in which a tapered proportioning?slot is formed in a balance wheel and is engaged by the free eno "of the sliii table incidence .comuensator-spring 15,

Figure 10 is a perspective VlGTj in which,

the tapered slot is formed in an extension from the pallet of an escapement, which 17211, lot is connected to and oscillates pro rata with a pendulum, and, r

Figure 11, is a perspective view or a mochanism in which the tapered slot is formed in some element oscillating pro rata with a balance wheel. f l

In this constructional form of compensator shown in Figures 1 and 2, which (although not adapted to give proportional con 7 trol) is designed to eliminate the ei'lects of friction and other disturbing -factors, and ensure perfect sensitivity to the smallest variations in pressure andtemp'erature conditions, the pendulum a is suspended in t e usual way from the springband is engaged at a point below the suspension spring by L118 tree extremity of a brake or compensator springc whichconstitutes the variable-re sistanee element of the mechanism. The

spring c,'in this particular example, is disposed horizontally behind, and at right angles to the plane'ot oscillation of, the pendulum, andwhilst its one end is engaged with the pendulum as above stated, the other end is anchored to a bracket or other. fixture (I; this anchorage being disposed in the same vertical plane as the oscillation pointof the pen lulum. [ilhesame bracket also supports a vertical lever c that is fulcrumed to 0scl late in thevertieal plane that contains the compensator spring anchorage (Z and whose upper end iS connected, by a suitably transmission arr'angen'ient withthe diaphragm of an aneroid or other susceptible device f, whilst the lower arm contains a fork, loop, or equivalent formation d that rides on the con'ipensator spring intermediate the anchored end of the latter and the pendulum. The lever is preferably extended below the spri and has some sliding engagement with a 5m ably-disposed rigid stabilizer or flatsectioned guide-tongue g which prevents or takes up side play in the said lever and con strains the latter to oscillate'in the one plane exactly at right angles to the plane of the pendulum oscillation. Pointed adjusting screws may be arranged between the-lever and the rigid guide for taking up side play and ensuring eitective but frictionless sup port for the said lever, and a similar pair of l cedadjusting screws or contacts may be carried in opposite sides of a loop in the porn dulum rod; the free end'ot the compensator spring being engaged between the points of permitting ofdelicate or exact adjustment of the connection between the lever and spring so that there no side play or lost motion, and the whole of the parts are an rangedso that only a very slight force is required to traverse or displace the lever relatively to the sprin g for altering the position of the said forkrelatively to the anchored end of the said sprin Y Each such alteration o'f the position of the lever-fork in synchronism with movement transmitted from the aneroid or the like alters the length oi the eftective flexible portion of the said spring (i. e. the portion between the rider contacts and the point of its connection to or engagement with the pendulum) and correspondingly varies the braking'eii ect or resistance imposed by the said. spring on the pendulum oscillations with the result that e ii the slightesteiiort or movement originating at tne diaphragm of the aneroid or thelike is translated into a variation of the brakespring resistance that efa definite alteration in the pendulum rate. V The com ensator' mechanism' described provides for the automatic variation of the l ill) pendulum rate by amounts determinedby the path where the whole or the spring lies in, a straight line between the. pendulum and the anchor-bracket, and in which the compensating lever form can traverse or alter its position, without the spring opposing any frictional resistance to such movement, I

Another application of the, invention,

which ,providesiifor proportional control b.e-'

ing realized, involves the use of a brake or compensator spring which is displaceable in the plane containing the fulcrum of a pendulum or balance wheel, or some other oscillating element connected with a pendulum or balance-wheel. A proportional control apparatus in accordance with such application is shown in Figures 3 to 11 oi" the draw ings embodied in the pendulum-escapement mechanism of a meter for delivering measured quantities of gas to calorimeters and the like. In these figures, likenumerals are employed todesignate similar parts througln out the several views. i

In its general arrangement, the pendulum.- controlled escapement mechanism of the me-f tering apparatus is of a known construction,-

and, therefore, calls for no particular description in this specification, but to provide for the cmbodim'entof the present invention in such a meter, the metering drum casing 10 is mounted on a tank-basell that supports a cylinder or casing 12 containing'aseries of inter-communicating air-filled capsules 13 so arranged that the sum of any movementgen- V erated or originating therein by the efi'ectoi changes in temperature and pressure is con veyed to a flexible diaphragm ll and 1s thence transmitted. to v the PEHClHIlIHkCOIItIOllIHg compensator device as hereinafter described. The base 11 comprises an airtank l1 .en-

closed in agas tank 11*, the latter having .an intake orifice in communication with the metering part of the apparatus andanoutlet connection leading into the cylinder 12, so.

that gasnpassing from the meter proceedsthrough the outer tank and into the cylinder before passing on to the calorimeter lorthe like to whichthe gas is being delivered, whilst the inner orair-tank 11 communicates through a pipe 11 with the interiors of the system of capsules, as shown in Figure-3.

By this arrangementpthe temperature of the air in the inner tank andin the capsules is -maintained at the same temperature as the gas delivered from the meter and varles as the gas temperature varies.

\ Referring now to the compensator or core rector device, this comprises a spring blade or tongue 15 carried on the forward end 05 the long arm of a multiplying lever 16 which shown in Figure 7) with a vertical slot. formed 1n the part 21 oi the pendulum;the arrangement being such that any motion originating in and transmitted from the capsules as the result of variations in gas tem;

perature and barometric pressure displaces the multiplying lever and compensator spring and so changes or alters the point of incidence of the latter upon the pendulum as to produce the necessarycompensating alterations in the pendulum oscillation arc. For instance, when a temperature or pressure efiect causes the density of the gas delivered to fall, that efi'ect simultaneously influences the capsules and produces a displacement of the-compensator device which permits ofs uch a change in the brakingefifect on the pendulum, controll ng escapement and metering drum as will result n the del very of a greater volume of gas per time unit to compensate for the decreasein density,'whilst conversely, where a temperature or pressure change increases the density of the gas, the

same causeoriginates ajcapsule movement which istranslated into a. shifting of the compensator for .efiecting a corresponding change in the braking eii'ect on the pendulum and metering drum and reducing the gas volume per time unit. a

To take up playor prevent lost motionin.

the transmission system, a light'adjustable s rin 22 is inter nosed between the lon arm" -3 O of the multiplying lever and a suitable anchorage such as 23, whilst to provide a means for varying the lengthot' the short arm of the i said lever, an adjustment such as shown in Figure 8 may be incorporated. sists of a slide 24 which is normally clamped to the slotted arm of the lever by aclamping device 25 and with which the coupling rod eading from the diaphragm 14L is connected;

the arrangementbeing such that by slacking oil the device 25 and moving the slide along the arm, the distance between the couplingrod connection and the fulcrum of themultiplying lever can be altered to any extent within the limits imposed by the length of the slot 26f I To facilitate adjustment of the'compensator device, the front of the apparatus is provided with, a fixed scale plate 27 (see This con 7 N. T. P. reading, the lever and compensator can be readily set to that position in relation to the pendulum where the pointer 28 registers with the Zero mark of the scale 27. An adjustment 30 (see Figures 6 and. 7) may also be introduced between the connection of the compensator spring and lever to provide for a lateral displacement of the said compensator in relation to the perpendicular plane containing the pendulum fulcrum.

The corrective etlcct ot this shittable-incidence device produced by the bending of the spring on" impingement of a pendulum or equivalent oscillating'element against its free end may be proportioned to, or calibrated on, the temperature and pressure variations for which correction has to be made by introducing into the mechanism (such as at the-corn nection of the flexing end of the spring with the oscillating element) a means for equalizing the deflection "factor and-determining its eflect on pendulum speed throughout the whole-or any desired part of its range of vertical displacement relatively to the oscillating element. For instance, where it is desired that the arc of: spring-deflection shall be a constant imposing on tne same resistance efij'ect on the oscillation element at all its varying incidence points, the said oscillating element may be formed with a taper-sided slot (i. e. a slot having a contour of a sector oi the oscillation arc of the said element) within which the free end of the spring is engaged.

The application of the invention to a pencdulum escapement mechanism as shown in Figures 3 and 8 embodies a proportioning device in the form of a taper slot or aperture 31, cutin the part 21 of the pendulum and engaged by the 'l'reeor dei'lectable eno of This particular lormation the compensator. is designed to render the compensator brake factor a constant at all positions within its range of vertical displacement (that is to say, it is designed to eliminate effects, such as would occur if the spring engaged a par allel sided slot in the pendulum due to increases in the bending arc of the saidspring consequent on the shi'l tings of the point of incidence further from the pendulum fulcrum, and provides for the pendulum rate being governed by one factor only, viz. the distance of its incidence point from the pendulum fulcrum) and it is, therefore, given show'the said compensator as laterally de flected in opposite directions by alternate impingement'of' the opposite edges of the pendulum slot against its free end, which occurs after the pendulum has made its free swing as provided for by the shape of the said slot.

The shape or contour of this proportioning slot or equivalent may, however, be so selected as regards its shape or formation that resistance to the oscillatory element is produced. by varying the spring-deflection arc of the compensator instead of or in addition to changing its incidence point.

'lVhere a shiftable incidence brake spring is used to give proportional control in an escapement' mechanism embodying a balance wheel, the proportioning slot or equivalent device with which the brake spring is engaged may be formed in or upon the balance wheel itself as shown in Figure 9, or in or upon some element connected to and oscillating pro rata with the said wheel, as shown in Figure 11. In Figure 9,a tapered propontioning slot 31 is formed in the balance wheel and is engaged by the free end of the shiftable incidence compensator-spring 15. In Figure'll a tapered slot 31 is iormedin some element oscillating pro rata with the balance wheel. .VVhen it is desired to use the mechanism in connection with an element which oscillates pro rata with a pendulum, I employ the device illustrated in Figure 10, which shows an arrangement in which the tapered proportioning slot 31 is formed'in an extension 41 from the pallet 40 of an escape ment, which pallet is connected to, and oscillates pro rata with a suitable pendulum.-

The several forms of invention herein de-V scribed in their application to the controlling clocks of gas or other fluid meters may also be applied to liquid meters involvinga rotating spindle for driving the index gear;

the spring-controlled pendulum or equivaill) escapement mechanism having an oscillat mg element and comprislnga blade spring,

means for supporting the blade spring in 00- operative relation with respect to the OSClllating element, said oscillating element having a slot'through which a portion of the spring extends. I

2. A device for governing the action of escapement mechanism having an oscillating element and comprising a blade spring, means for supporting the blade spring in cooperative relation to the oscillating element, said oscillating element having a tapered slot with which a portion of the blade spring coacts.

3. In combination with an oscillating elementhaving a slot therein, a spring brake member having a portion cooperable With the slot of the element to yieldably retard its movements.

4. A device for governing the action of es capement mechanism having an oscillating element and comprising a blade spring, means for supporting the blade'spring in cooperative relation to the oscillating element, said oscillating element including converging edges Withvvhich a portion of the blade spring coacts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

CLIFFGRD HOVVELL B'EASLEY. 

